When Sorry Is Not Enough by Millie Gray Read Free Book Online Page A

on the game? Why was the better life I was slaving to give her not enough for Marie?’
    ‘Can’t talk for Marie. All I know is there was a time in my life that punting on the streets was the only thing I thought I was any good at. Pity Sally never got her hands on Marie because I know, like me, Marie would eventually have made the break. And she had an even better incentive … a good husband like you.’

    The prison doors had just clanged shut behind them when Luke looked up and down the road. ‘It will take us a few hours to get to Smithton so we need to eat. You two fancy some fish and chips? At least here we know the fish will be fresh.’
    Sally and Nancy looked from one to the other. ‘Don’t know if I have much stomach for eating right now,’ Sally mumbled.
    Nancy looked at Luke. She judged he needed some normality in his life and it just might be that another trauma awaited them at Smithton. So thinking it would be better to be prepared for what was to come on a full stomach she said, ‘Fish and chips you said, Luke? Now that’s just what we need – especially as you’ll be paying.’

    It was seven thirty when they arrived at Smithton. Luke banged the knocker and then he opened the door and walked in.
    Flora, drying her hands on her apron, came out of the kitchen and squinted at the three intruders. ‘Oh my, is that you, Luke, and my, Sally? Praise be to God for this lovely surprise. Have you eaten?’
    ‘Aye,’ replied Nancy, ‘we feasted on fish and chips in Peterhead. Real guid they were tae.’
    ‘Och, but you will be ready for a cuppa. Just wait there until I run next door and fetch Shonag. Sure she’ll be as pleased as me to be seeing you. Then you can get me up to date about what’s been happening down in Leith. Leith, sunny Leith, how I remember it well.’
    Flora had just left when Luke turned to Sally. ‘Everything seems normal. She’s just like her old self.’ Luke now looked at the table that had been set for three. ‘And look, she’s been baking and not only some nice scones but also some gingerbread. Here, do you think she remembered that I just love her gingerbread and that somehow she knew I was coming?’
    ‘Mmmmm,’ was all Sally replied before suggesting to Nancy that she go into the kitchen and switch the kettle on.
    The kettle had just started to boil when Flora returned with Shonag and Shonag’s son William. Most people referred to William as Sweet William, because he was effeminate but Sally always said him being inoffensively camp just seemed to add to his charm.
    Sally and Luke tried not to look at each other in case they registered their disbelief at the state of William. Nancy, however, started to grin. She was delighted that he did not appear to have been ravished with the, as yet unnamed, disease that she thought he had contracted. This was the condition that nobody really spoke out about. It was a justifiable affliction, according to some misguided religious fanatics, visited on those who had disobeyed God and had decided to be gay or indulge themselves with narcotics. The poor victims were too often ostracised and shunned as lepers had been back in biblical times. But , she thought as she smiled again, here was William and yes, he was hobbling about and required the assistance of crutches to do just that but his bones were still covered amply by healthy flesh.
    ‘What’s she grinning at?’ William sullenly asked of Sally. ‘Has she never seen a bloke crippled by a sadist before?’
    Ever astute Sally knew that Nancy had feared the worst for William and to be truthful she had too but had kept her suspicions to herself. Knowing she had to defuse the situation she went over and pecked William on the cheek while she whispered in his ear, ‘Look at her teeth, William. They’re new and the very latest in design. She’s desperate for people to notice them, she is.’
    William sniggered. ‘Here, Nancy,’ he began, ‘there’s something different about you. I